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Letter from Mary Martin Rebow

Letter from Mary Martin Rebow

The Park
29 July 1778
From a variety of circumstances, my dearest love, the principal of which are not writable, it has struck three o'clock, and I am but just set down to write, from which you will readily conclude I shall not be able to say a great deal to you today, however I hear no tidings of Mrs. Jenkings, or any of her family yet, therefore will lose no time in trifling relations, but proceed to what is uppermost in my mind, (viz) [sic] your great kindness in letting me have a letter yesterday; you cannot think what a pleasing surprise it was to me, for I had so settled in my own mind, that I could not hear from you till today, that I did not even attempt to send for letters, but waited the postman's time very patiently. You make me very happy with the good account you give me of your health, and likewise with the satisfaction you express at the accounts I send you; O, my love how shall I, and our children ever return half of the obligations we are under to you. We still continue free from any returns, and through I am obliged to Fraser for complying with my request, and sending me his advice, yet I am so afraid of anything of mercury for children, that I think
[End of page 1]
with you, we had better have a little patience, for the lump certainly decreased every day, and she is in good health in other respects, and in high spirits; I have not seen Sterling above this fortnight, but I make her take a little of that mixture of cream of tartar, brimstone, and treacle every day. They are gone with Miss Roberts to take a ride to Alresford, while I write; I asked Mary before she went, if she had not some message in return for the hiss you sent her, and she says, "tell him Miss Rebow sends him a sweet bass, and desires he will come home." Emma is quite well, and I think her affront seems to wear off, for she has drank your health very cordially for several days, and asked me yesterday why you would stay at Cox Heath. I am very glad you sustained no damage by the storm, but fear you make the best of it, to me about the rain, for the papers say you have such quantity of water on the ground that you are forced to cut trenches round every tent to carry it off which if true, I am sure must be very unwholesome and dangerous to those that have never been used to that way of life, however it is wrong to meet troubles halfway, therefore as you say you are well, I will hope to God that you will continue so, Mrs. M. Price tells me that Jack writes her word, you are to be removed from camp, as soon as the king has seen you, and Mrs. Bullock writes that she is told, you are to go to Chatham; pray is there anything in either?
[End of page 2]
Mrs. Wegg came on Sunday, and upon my word she is so warm in her praises both of your, and your tent, that I think it behooves me to look sharp about me; she desired me to give her best compliments when I wrote with a thousand thanks for the great civilities you showed her. I enquired a great deal about Tunbridge, and she gave me a full account of every particular, and like everybody else, is crazy for me to go there, and to take the children, the air being reckoned so fine, and healthy, for little folks, but I hope you have, or will soon, meet with something you like for me in the lodging way at Maidstone, for she tells me I cannot possible be at Tunbridge without the carriage and a pair of horses, if not four, which would never do. The bedrooms and parlors there are 10 (shillings) a week. Servant's rooms 5 (shillings) and they let you linen, china, etc., etc. and dress your victuals at so much a week. Mrs. Tunbridge is come herself and begins to rather impatient, therefore I must only add, that the rye is began today, and the wheat is in such fine order that the farmer thinks he shall go straight on to that. The remainder of the peas were got in very well, are a fine sample, there is a pretty piece of hay brought home from the Falcon Field, and there will be some fine rowens [sic] in the field in a short time. The farmer let the harvest to the men, before these rains set in, at 5 (shillings) 6 (pence) or 5, I don't know which, the wheat, and 1 (shilling) 6 (pence) the barley and oats, an acre.
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He says, you and he, settled to put the rye on a cock, but thinks the two chambers, and the cart lodge will hold it very well, and will be more handy therefore begs you will send him word if you approve of his putting it there. Everything else goes on very well. Fan desires to join in love and compliments and with the most fervent wishes for your health and welfare, and that we may have a speedy meeting I remain
My dearest life,
Yours etc., etc.,
Mary Rebow
[P.S.] I have enclosed two letters that came yesterday and Sunday.
[End of page 4]

The Park
29 July 1778
From a variety of circumstances, my dearest love, the principal of which are not writable, it has struck three o'clock, and I am but just set down to write, from which you will readily conclude I shall not be able to say a great deal to you today, however I hear no tidings of Mrs. Jenkings, or any of her family yet, therefore will lose no time in trifling relations, but proceed to what is uppermost in my mind, (viz) [sic] your great kindness in letting me have a letter yesterday; you cannot think what a pleasing surprise it was to me, for I had so settled in my own mind, that I could not hear from you till today, that I did not even attempt to send for letters, but waited the postman's time very patiently. You make me very happy with the good account you give me of your health, and likewise with the satisfaction you express at the accounts I send you; O, my love how shall I, and our children ever return half of the obligations we are under to you. We still continue free from any returns, and through I am obliged to Fraser for complying with my request, and sending me his advice, yet I am so afraid of anything of mercury for children, that I think
[End of page 1]
with you, we had better have a little patience, for the lump certainly decreased every day, and she is in good health in other respects, and in high spirits; I have not seen Sterling above this fortnight, but I make her take a little of that mixture of cream of tartar, brimstone, and treacle every day. They are gone with Miss Roberts to take a ride to Alresford, while I write; I asked Mary before she went, if she had not some message in return for the hiss you sent her, and she says, "tell him Miss Rebow sends him a sweet bass, and desires he will come home." Emma is quite well, and I think her affront seems to wear off, for she has drank your health very cordially for several days, and asked me yesterday why you would stay at Cox Heath. I am very glad you sustained no damage by the storm, but fear you make the best of it, to me about the rain, for the papers say you have such quantity of water on the ground that you are forced to cut trenches round every tent to carry it off which if true, I am sure must be very unwholesome and dangerous to those that have never been used to that way of life, however it is wrong to meet troubles halfway, therefore as you say you are well, I will hope to God that you will continue so, Mrs. M. Price tells me that Jack writes her word, you are to be removed from camp, as soon as the king has seen you, and Mrs. Bullock writes that she is told, you are to go to Chatham; pray is there anything in either?
[End of page 2]
Mrs. Wegg came on Sunday, and upon my word she is so warm in her praises both of your, and your tent, that I think it behooves me to look sharp about me; she desired me to give her best compliments when I wrote with a thousand thanks for the great civilities you showed her. I enquired a great deal about Tunbridge, and she gave me a full account of every particular, and like everybody else, is crazy for me to go there, and to take the children, the air being reckoned so fine, and healthy, for little folks, but I hope you have, or will soon, meet with something you like for me in the lodging way at Maidstone, for she tells me I cannot possible be at Tunbridge without the carriage and a pair of horses, if not four, which would never do. The bedrooms and parlors there are 10 (shillings) a week. Servant's rooms 5 (shillings) and they let you linen, china, etc., etc. and dress your victuals at so much a week. Mrs. Tunbridge is come herself and begins to rather impatient, therefore I must only add, that the rye is began today, and the wheat is in such fine order that the farmer thinks he shall go straight on to that. The remainder of the peas were got in very well, are a fine sample, there is a pretty piece of hay brought home from the Falcon Field, and there will be some fine rowens [sic] in the field in a short time. The farmer let the harvest to the men, before these rains set in, at 5 (shillings) 6 (pence) or 5, I don't know which, the wheat, and 1 (shilling) 6 (pence) the barley and oats, an acre.
[End of page 3]
He says, you and he, settled to put the rye on a cock, but thinks the two chambers, and the cart lodge will hold it very well, and will be more handy therefore begs you will send him word if you approve of his putting it there. Everything else goes on very well. Fan desires to join in love and compliments and with the most fervent wishes for your health and welfare, and that we may have a speedy meeting I remain
My dearest life,
Yours etc., etc.,
Mary Rebow
[P.S.] I have enclosed two letters that came yesterday and Sunday.
[End of page 4]